Tire-making machine.



A. H. HARRIS.

TIRE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1915.

1,160,075. Patented Nov. 9, 1915. v 3 SHEETSSHEET l.

avumutoz A. H. HARRIS.

TIRE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1915.

Elvweutoz mu/We,- Ma

A. H. HARRIS.

TIRE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 9'15.

' 1,160,075. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- "II/11,11,111rnnnnnun the following to be a full, clear, and exact ARCHER H. HARRIS, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

TIRE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application filed March 24, 1915. Sam No. 16,577.

description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to tire making machines, but more especially to machines for producing the body material or fabricated portions of a tire carcass. Generally stated, it co-mprisesa wrapping machine, designed,

. arranged and adapted primarily for making the body material of cord-woundtire shoes or casings, as distinguishedfrom shoes or casings employing frictioned fabric cut on the bias and stretched into form. This same machine, however, without material alteration, may be employed in building tire carcasses by winding strips of rubberized or frictioned-fabric transversely and circumferentially about a suitable ring-core; or it may be employed to similarly wrap with a strip of suitable fabric, a tire carcass constructed in whole or in part of rubber, or compositions containing rubber, forpurposes of maintaining the article in shape during vulcanization by the open cure process. And moreover. the present machine may be utilized in the preparation of finished tires for shipment, by wrapping them transversely and circumferentially with paper strips in the well-known manner. In

its primary use, however, my present invention is devoted to the production of a body material for tire carcasses of the cord or thread wound type. It is a well recognized fact that tires of the class mentioned are superior in some respects to those employing frictioned fabric as the body material; and particularly when, as is usually the case, such fabric is cut on the bias to facilitate' stretching,and as a consequence is weakened, at the very place where the greatest strength is desirable, namely, at its sides where blow-outs usually occur. It is also an acknowledged fact that cord or thread wound tires are more s eedy than those employing a body-material of woven fabric,

other conditions being equal, and are more efiicient in that they afi'ord greater mileage per charge in the j case of electric vehicles,

formed.

or per ga llon of gasolene in the case of gas cars; they are also more resilientand consequently more comfortable riding.

My present invention therefore, has for an ob eCt the ultimate production of cord wound tires of the class described, and the production of'automatic machines for forming the material of which the body'portion, or carcass, of said cord wound tires are As a further object this invention contemplates and provides for the economical 1 i and expeditious manufacture of such tires.

A further object resides in'means for systematically and uniformly applying the cord or thread elements of-a body material for tires in two or more plies, and with uniform density throughout the carcass.

A further object is the production of means whereby bead reinforcing members may be machine-wound as above mentioned, to become an integral part of the tire structure.'- I

A further object is the production of an organized machine of novel construction for accomplishing the results above indicated,

and it will be understood that the several moving parts thereof, driven from a common source of power, are properly timed and synchronized. j

With these and other objects in View the invention will now be particularly def scribed, and pointed out by the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings 'which form part of this application for Letters Patent, and whereon like numerals of reference lndlcate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention showing a pair of annular bead-reinforcing members in position and ready for winding. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of parts illustrated by Fig. 1, showing the driving mechanism for all rotary parts. Fig. 3 is a detached detail view,=partly in plan and partly'in horizontal section, showing a pair of feed rolls, and a pair of guiding rolls for a combined work holder and driving belt. Fig. 4: is a plan view of a double support for a shuttle housing, showing also the shuttle and its raceway in horizontal section. Figs. 5 and 6 are both detail sectionalviews through the shuttle and shuttle housing, taken at 5, 5 and 6-6 respectively, on Fig. 2. Fig.7 is a plan view of a 'pair of parallel bead reinforcing members,

numerals thereon, 1 indicates a machine base or pedestal made of cast iron, or of reinforced concrete, or other suitable material, and flanged as at 2 upon both sides at its forward end. From between these parallel flanges rises a work holding or supporting frame comprising a duplicate pair of U- shaped castings 3 each having an integral angular stiffening flange 4, and at its bottom a horizontal flangeor foot 5 through which the respective frame members are securely boltedin 'an upright position to pedestal 1 as at 6, 6. At this point also there is introduced between the oppositely disposed U- shaped frame members 3, 3 a spreader or space block 7 having flanged ends 8, 8, bolted to said members 3, 3, as at 9. As a means of spacing the upper portions of said frame members 3, 3 and maintaining them in fixed relation, there is provided tubular spacing bars 10, 10 secured in place by tie rods or bolts 11,11 passing through corresponding sides of the oppositely disposed frame members 3, 3 and there secured by ordinary threaded nuts and washers as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. r

At both upper ends of each- U- shaped frame member 3, and also at' intermediate and corresponding positions upon each, as

1 best shown by Fig. 1 of the'drawin gs, are

cast integral enlargements of perforated bosses 12 which serve as journal bearings for upper cross shafts 13 and lower cross shafts 14 upon which shafts are mounted upper and lower flanged guide rollers 15, 15 and 16, 16, respectively, of a length substantially corresponding with the distance between the frame members 3, 3. As best shown by Fig. 3 the said upper shafts 13, 13

are keyed to their respective rollers 15, 15, and are extended at both ends thereof. Mounted directly upon each of these shafts 13 and within the oppositely disposed bearings 12, 12 of frame members 3, 3, are outwardly extending tubular journals 17 and 18 of a vertically movable roller-frame 19, the sides of which frame are maintained in parallel and fixed relation by agency of interposed tubular space members-and connecting bolts 20, 20 as shown. In. the-outer ends of both frames 19 are mounted roller shafts 21, and to these are keyed guide roll.- ers 22, similar to the aforesaid rollers 15; while to the end of each tubular bearing 18 is keyed a hand lever 23 by means of which its particular frame 19, and consequently its guide roller 22, may be rocked upon its shaft 13 as a center. Upon the rearward end of the said extended shafts 13 are keyed i i driven sprocket wheels'24 and 25 forpurposes which will later'appear.

To the front of flange 4 near the upper end of each main frame member 3 are bolted outward and upwardly extending arms 26 each provided with an arcuate slot 27 within. which travels the shank of a binding screw 28 provided with .a wing-nut 29 as the means of locking the hand levers 23, and consequently guide roller. 22, inp'redetermine'l.

positions.

Through the base of both frame members 3, upon opposite sides oftheir centers, and in suitable bearings such as 30, are mounted horizontally arranged rock shafts 31, to

the forwardly projecting end of both rock shafts 31 is securely. keyeda worm wheel 34, while in mesh with these latter are right and 'left worms 35, carried by a shaft 36v mounted in bearings 37 and provided at one end with an operating wheel 38, as best shown by Fig. 1, thus constituting tension-.

ing-mechanism for a belt 39. This belt 39 is endless, it is also flexible, and of a width corresponding substantially with the distance between flanges of its guide rollers 15,-

16, 22 and 33, and isformedlof any suitable material such as rubber or. balata and fabric. Upon its working face the said belt is thickened at its opposite sides as at 40, 40, and is provided with edge grooves throughout its entire length as shown at 41, 41, for the purpose of receiving and retaining in operative position bead reinforcing mem bers, or'steel rings, such as shown at'42 in Figs. 1, 3 and 7, and by dotted lines in Fig.

8, for purposes which will later appear in connection with a statement of operation.

Immediately back of the work sup orting and advancing mechanism hereinbe ore described, and upon pedestal 1, is located the driving mechanism which will now be de scribed. I

Rising from the surface of pedestal 1 are bosses 43 43 into which are secured, preferably by screw-threaded connections, the lower ends of two duplicate and parallel columns .or upright standards 44, 44, each provided with a screw-threaded collar or enlargement 45 at its approximate center, and a nut 46 in threaded relation therewith, the latter being perforated as at .47 for the reception of a wrench pin or lever (not shown) whereby the said nuts may be raised or lowered. Mounted upon the said standards 44, immediately above their respective nuts 46, is a vertically movable double supportv 48 for a shuttle housing, said support comprising a pair of substantially cylindrical barrels each pierced bya clamping'bolt 49 bearing at its inner end upon" its partlcular'standard 44, and at its opposite or frontside each having a vertical plane face 50. These cylindrical members of the said support 48 are connected at their upper ends by converging webs 51 which terminate in a verticaLjournal boxand bearing 52-, for a main driving shaft which will later be de-' scribed in-connection with the actuating or operating mechanism.

Securely bolted as at 53 to the plane faces 50'of the said double support, 48 are lateral 'flanges 54 of a two-part shuttle-support or raceway 55. This; feature of invention is made of corresponding half; sections, which are circular in form and are provided with i a gap or opening at their front, they are also angular-in cross section, thus providing inwardly extending shuttle-retaining side flanges, and are spaced apart at their inneredges by agency-of integral. inwardly extending-and abutting lugs '56-securely bolted together as shown ht 57 by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings; Extending radially from the peripheries of both members, or halves, of

i said shuttle raceway 55, are additional lugs 58, in which are ournaled a stub shaft 59 bearing an idler pulley or sheave 60, as

shown by Figs. land 2; and to the rear of i said lugs 58 in like manner is located another pair of longerlugs 61, also properly spaced apart and connected by abolt 57. At the 'outeriends of the last. mentioned parallel "lugs 61 is journaled a shaft 62 upon which is keyled ajdrivingsprocket wheel 63 in aline- 'ment with the sheave 60 aforesaid, while upon the laterallyextended end of said shaft 62 is similarly keyed a gear wheel 63', adjacent to'which upon the same shaft 62 is pivotally suspended a link 64. This link 64 is "offset from the innermost lug 61 by means of a sleeve 65 which surrounds theshaftf 62, and at' its lower end is provided with a longitudinal slot 66 in which, upon a suitable bolt 67, is adjustably journaled an intermediate driven gear 68 meshing with the aforesaid gear 63. Projecting forwardly from the said link 64 is an arm 69 broken by an arcuate slot 7 0, through which1atter the said link and depending parts may be locked in adjusted positions by agency of a through bolt 71, and a spacing sleeve 72, interposed between arms 69 of said link and the innermost of the lugs 61. I

In'mesh with the intermedlate gear ust I described is another gear 72 carried by and keyed .to a' stub shaft 73 which finds a hori- 'zontaljournal bearing in a bracket 7 4 rising from journal .box 52. To the opposite end -'-of said stub shaft 73 isaffixed a driven bevel gear 7 5' constantly in mesh with a horizontal driving bevel ear 76 splined upon a main ldriving shaft 7,-a nd rotatively stepped at its lower end in a boss 78 cast or otherwise formed upon pedestal 1. .Thus it will be seen that the journal box. 52, its integral ing driven by a spur gear 82, a driven gear.

83 carried by a back-shaft to which said gear 82 is afli'xed, and a driving pinion 84 upon the shaft of an electric'motor 85, or a prime mover of any other description. 7

Midway of the two cylindrical members of the shuttle housing. support '48 at their upper extremities are cast an integral pair of lugs 86 between which is rotatively mounted a guide sheave 87 in alinement with the corresponding sheave and the driving sprocket wheel 63 aforesaid, while over the latter and over both'of said guide sheaves runs an endless -sprocket chain-88.

Within the shuttle-housing o-r raceway 55 .is a rotary circular shuttle or bobbin-carrier 89, having a work-admitting gap at one point in' its .circumference, and provided upon the center of its exterior surface with a circumferential series of sprocket teeth 90, said teeth being adapted and arranged to travel in a plane coincident with the space between the two sections or spaced apart members of the shuttle-housing 55. Upon the innerperiphery of said shuttle 89 is pro- -vided a: pair of lugs 91 between which is pivotally and detachably mounted a flanged bobbin or reel 92 carrying a supply of working'cord, thread, or wrapping material 93,

which latter by preference passes through an eye94, also carried by the shuttle, and

over tension rolls 95, 96 and 97. The said rolls are pivotally supported by a fin 98 depending from the shuttle 89, the last two .of

. said rolls being mountedin elongated bearlugs and therefore movable radially and circumferentially to somewhat increase the ten 7 sion as the cordor wrapping material 93 is drawn ofl andfutilized.

In addition. .to the driving mechanism hereto-fore described, including endless chain 88 for rotating shuttle 89 rapidly in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2, there is provided mechanism for rotating the steel "bead rings or bead reinforcing members 42, '42 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, at 'an angle to the line of travel of shuttle 89, and in linked relation thereto, as will nowbe described.

Adjustably secured to both vertical Acoluinns 44', 44 is'a double yoked'saddle-clip '99 having a centrally arranged horizontal bear,- ing 100 for a driven shaft 101, and also a depending bracket 102 passing centrally between said columns and provided with a bearing 103 for the main drive shaft 77 Immediately above this bearing 103 and splined upon said shaft .7 7 is a beveled driving pinion 104 in mesh with a beveled driven gear 105 keyed to one end of the shaft 101 at the opposite end whereof is aflixed a driving sprocket 106 as best shown by Fig. 1.

Over the last named sprocket runs an endless sprocket chain 107 which'passes thence upward in diverging lines over driven sprockets 24 and 25 on the rearwardly extended ends of upper shafts 13, 13, and

thence over idler sprockets similarly situwproper -intermeshing of either larger or ated upon the rearwardly extending ends of lowershafts 14, 14, and 14,14 by meansof which the belt rollers 15, 16, 22 and 33 are positively driven.

This being a description of my present invention its use and operation may be briefly stated as follows Belt rollers 22, 22 having been temporarily elevated by agency of hand levers 23, 23, as indicated in dotted lines by Fig. 1, a pair of steel bead rings such as 42, 42 are next introduced, as shown by said figure, into the continuous side grooves 41, 41

of the endless belt 39 which thus supports the said bead reinforcing members in operative working position. Driven now by agency of the chain 107 and operative con-. nections, the said belt 39 serves to rotate said reinforcing members or bead rings .in

vthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.

1.- A bobbin 92 carrying a supply of rubber saturated or rubberized cord 93 having been journaled in the brackets 91 as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, may now be rotated more or less rapidly according to requirements, together withits attached shuttle 89, the latter being driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 through agency of the endless sprocket chain '88 in constant engagement with a portion of the peripheral shuttle teeth 90, and cooperating with the gear train and intermediate connections heretofore, described with the source of power. As a preliminary step, the end of cord 93 is first led from bobbin 92 over the tension rolls 95 96 and 97 to onebead ring 42. The driving mechanism then being started. it will be seen that shuttle 89 and the parallel bead rings 42, 42 will be rapidly rotated both in a clockwise direction, at.

.varying speeds, and in interlinked relation may be varied in the different plies by varythis obviously may be accomplished by any invention, and although a single bobbin 92 imposed plies or layers of cord, and it is evident that the angle of applying said cords ing the relative speed of the rotating shuttle 89 and bead rings 42; This variance may be accomplished in diflerent ways, the one illustrated being that of substituting gears of difierent diameters for the gears 68 and 63 shown, and changingthe center of rotation of the former accordingly by. agency of the adjustable supporting link 64 and its; arcuate slotted securingarm 69 to insure the smaller gears 68 and 63. Thus it will be apparent that the angle at which cords-93 are applied to bead rings 42, 42 may bevariously changed according to the relative speed of travel of the said rotary members. Itwill be cords 93 upon bead rings 42, 42 m y-be reversed by the mere reversal of the direction of travel of the work-supporting belt 39, and

of the well known reversing means, so common-to driving mechanisms similar to that herein shown and described. It will be observed also that the present structure makes provision for-bead rings 42 of somewhat increased diameters, inasmuch as elevation of the guide rollers 22, 22 will permit the introduction of such, within certain limits, to the work-holding portion or inner loop of the endless belt 39. If rings 42 of increased diameter are to be wound ,as aforesaid, it becomes desirable, although not necessary, to raise accordingly the center of rotation of shuttle 89, and this may readily be accomplishedby elevating the entire shuttle housing or raceway 55,-which is secured to and moves with the vertically adjustable double support 48, the latter being conveniently elevated by means of screw collars 46 and suitable wrench pins. It will also be noted that an adjustment is provided for the driving sprocket 106, carried by the vertically movable clip 99'and' its connections, and when so adjusted one way or the other, the proper intermeshing of" driven gear 105 and the driving gear 104 is insured by corresponding adjustment of the latter in its splined seat upon the main driving shaft 77.

Although cord has been referred to mainly, throughout the foregoing specification, it should be understood that any suitable form of rubberized thread or Wrapping material may be employed in practice withput departing from the spiritof the present has been shown and described, a plurality of suchbobbins may'readily be employed at one and the same time. Moreover it is, of course',

understood that the various moving parts? noted also that the directionof winding the hereinbefore set forth as an exemplificatioh,

I to insure proper winding of the cord 93, and

the best results at all times.

The foregoing being a description of my invention in the best form of construction at present known to me, it should .be noted that various mechanical and structural changes may be made without materially altering the principle of operation or results accomplished, and to all such I lay claim the same as if hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus described my invention what I now claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

- 1, In a machine for forming the body material of elastic tires, the combination with flexible means for operatively supporting and advancing bead-reinforcing members, of a bobbin adapted to carry wrapping material, and means for casting said bobbin around said bead-reinforcing members.

2. In a machine for forming the body material of elastic tires, the combination with flexible means for operatively supporting 1 and advancing bead-reinforcing members, of

a rotary shuttle, a bobbin for wrapping material carried by said shuttle, and means for rotating said shuttle around said reinforcing members.

3. In a machine for forming the body materialof elastic tires, the combination with flexible means for operatively supporting and advancing endless bead-reinforcing members, means for. rotating said shuttle through and around said reinforcing members.

4. In a machine for forming the body material of elastic tires, the combination with flexible means for operatively supporting annular bead-reinforcing members, of a rotary bobbin-bearing shuttle, and means for rotating said bead supporting and shuttle members in linked relation.

5. In a machine for forming the body ma terial of elastic tires, the combination with an endless belt for supporting and rotating annular bead-reinforcing members, of a shuttle arranged and adapted to rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed i by the work=holding portion of said belt,.a cord-carrying bobbin afi'ixed to said shuttle, and means for driving said endless belt and shuttle at variable speeds.

6. In a machine for forming the body material of elastic tires, the combination with an endless belt arranged in the form of a double loop the ends of which are spaced apart for supporting and rotating annular bead reinforcing members, of a shuttle having a gap in its circumference arranged and adapted to rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the work-hold: ing portion of said belt, a cord-carrying bobbina xed to said sh ttle, and means for M a bobbin-bearing shuttle, and

driving said endless belt and shuttle at variable speeds.

7 In a machine for forming thebodyma- I terial of elastic tires, the combination with an endless belt having parallel edge grooves in 1ts working surface for supporting and rotating annular bead-reinforcing members,

of a shuttle arranged and adapted to rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the work-holding; portion of saidbelt, a cord-carrying'bobbin aflixed to said shuttle, and means for driving said end- I less belt andshuttle at predetermined rates of speed. I I

8 In a machine for forming the body. ma-

terial ofela'stic tires, the combination with an endless belt for supporting and rotating annular bead-reinforcing members, of a series of guide rollers fordirecting the path of, 7 travel of said belt and spacing'apart the looped upper ends thereof, sprocket chain and wheel connections common to all of said rolls whereby they are driven, a shuttle having a gap in its circumference and peripheral sprocket teeth arranged and adaptedto rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the work-holding portion' of said belt, a bobbin carried by said shuttle, a second endless. sprocket chain constantly engaging a plurality of said shuttle.

teeth, and means for positively driving both of said chains.

9. In a machine for forming the body material of elastic tires, the combination with per ends thereof, a pair of vertically adjustable idler rolls located in the extremities of said belt loops, a power driven shuttle having a gap in its circumference and peripheral sprocket teeth arranged and adapted to rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the work-holding porshuttle, and means for positiyely' driving said rotary parts.

10. In a machine for forming the body material of elastic tires, the combination with an endless work-holding belt arranged in the form ofa double loop, of guide rollers for directing the path of travel of said belt, means for regulating the tension of said belt, a shuttle arranged and adapted to rotion of said belt, a bobbin carried by said tate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the work-holding portion of said belt, a cord-carrying bobbin affixed to and positively driving said work-holding belt and shuttle.

'11. In a machine for forming-the body material of elastic tires,the combination with an endless work-holding belt arranged in the moving with said shuttle, and means for .form of a double loop, of guide-rollers for directing the path of travel of said belt, a

, pair of tension rolls over which said belt passes, means commonto the last named rolls whereby they may be adjusted radially, a shuttle arranged and adapted to rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the work-holding portion'of said belt, a cord-carrying bobbinv affixed to and moving with said shuttle, and means common to said work-holding belt and shuttle wherebyboth are driven at predetermined rates of speed.

12. Ina machine for formingv the body material of elastic tires,the combination with-means for operatively supporting and rotating annular bead rings of varying diameters, of a rotary shuttle, a cord-carrying bobbin attached to said shuttle, a raceway in which said shuttle is adapted to rotate, a

- vertical support upon which said racewayi's i with a main supporting frame including a parallel U-shaped members, guide rollers supported by and interposed between said frame members, an endless flexible belt guided by said rollers for supporting and rotating annular bead reinforcing members,

a shuttle arranged and adapted to'rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that fol-- lowed by the work-holding portion of said a belt, a cord-carrying bobbin afiixed to said frame members, an endless flexible belt guided by said rollers for supporting and rotating in parallel arrangement annular bead reinforcing members, a second supporting frame rising from said pedestal including a pair of parallel columns, a shuttle arranged and adapted to rotate in an orbital path interlinked with that followed by the workholding portion of said belt, a cord-carrying bobbin attached to said shuttle, a raceway in which the shuttleaforesaid rotates, a'raceway support adjustably mounted upon the parallel columns aforesaid, and means for driving I said 'beadringsupporting and shuttle members in linked relation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 

